nathandace

^^ The questions in secondary will be about the K1 Visa - She opened my package and looked through it and quizzed me about things like, how did you meet? when did he propose? what city were his parents born in? (i had no idea haha), if I've ever been married before. I am one of the only person who had all these questions though. Most people don't get any questions so I wouldn't worry about!

I was just more curious about if they would ask about money, because of the payments that have to be made before I leave I wont be going with a whole lot... therefore I wasnt sure if this would become an issue or not? Im just so excited that everything is finally happening that I over think things and worry. if that makes any sense?

Thats pretty straight forward. Thanks again! I'm just so full of questions today...If Where Im flying is going to be different than where I am staying will this become an issue? can i specify this to them? We want to marry in California, part of his family are there and the others are in kansas(which is the address used in our files)but will be at the wedding, and then after 2 months we will be relocating again to texas due to his job training for the militairy. so its kind of all over the place for us for the first little while.

You will need to provide them with an address where you will be residing and where you can get mail. It can be a different address than the one you had originally submitted for the K-1. When you file the AOS you should use the address where you will be staying at the time because they will send the receipts there as well as your appointment for fingerprinting (bioimetrics). You do your biometrics at a local office so it needs to be close to where you are living. If you move after filing AOS you have to notify USCIS of your new address so you receive your mail from USCIS. Your file doesn't generally go to the Service Centers like CSC - it is generally transferred to your local office for processing. The reason for this is if you need an interview it is done at your local office so they are considered the ones 'in charge' of the processing. Files can and do get transferred however to other service centers for processing, most notably CSC, and such applications are generally approved without an interview. It can get confusing. You do need to keep USCIS informed about where you are living at any given time, especially if you have an application pending.

Thank you, your information has been very helpful to me. It has also put my mind at ease so to speak. Im still full of questions though. While going through the secondary inspection do they ask similar questions as they do at customs? as well as the basic questions that you have already mentioned to me? like how much money I would bring, pleasure/business for example. Or would it strictly be reagrding the K1 Visa and documents?

or would it directly go to the CSC because that is where everything else went through at the beginning of the K1 process? wait the CSC and the USCIS are different places right? im going to stop now before I really confuse myself. lol. it has been a long day!

Basically if you are flying in you will go through US customs at the airport in Canada. You don't need to do anything different when you buy your ticket nor mention anything to anyone. When you go to board your flight you will be directed to US immigration. They are the ones you give your envelope and passport to. The questions they ask are general information ones - where are you going, is the address correct, when are you getting married, stuff like that. They may tell you that you can't leave the US until you get your AOS or your Advance Parole (AP) - some do, some don't.

VBG is a shortform way of writing "very big grin" - I always found it funny that they made us do the work to bring our own immigration files back to the US. After you turn in your file they will forward it to the USCIS office that has jurisdiction over where you will be living so it is waiting for you when you file for AOS.

Thats pretty straight forward. Thanks again! I'm just so full of questions today...If Where Im flying is going to be different than where I am staying will this become an issue? can i specify this to them? We want to marry in California, part of his family are there and the others are in kansas(which is the address used in our files)but will be at the wedding, and then after 2 months we will be relocating again to texas due to his job training for the militairy. so its kind of all over the place for us for the first little while.

Congratulations! Crossing the border on a K-1 is usually pretty painless. Are you driving in or flying in? Either way, you arrive at the border or immigration and advise them you have a K-1 visa that you want to use. They will direct you to secondary inspection. Your visa will be physically attached inside your passport and you will also receive a large yellow envelope with the visa that contains instructions 'Do Not Open'. The yellow envelope contains your whole immigration file - you are actually couriering it back to the US (VBG). At Secondary inspection you will hand in the envelope and your passport with the visa. They will open the envelope, review the documents, ask you some questions, fingerprint you, then stamp your passport and staple a piece of cardstock into it called an I-94 (entry-exit visa). If you are driving they will charge you $6 for the I-94. If you are flying it will be included in your ticket price. They will write on both the stamp and the I-94 a date 90 days in the future - this is the day by which you need to get married. They will keep the envelope and hand you back the passport and visa. Be sure to hold on to the I-94 -you will need it for AOS.

You can apply for AOS as soon as you are married and have the State issued copy of the marriage certificate. Ideally you will also want to file for AOS before the I-94 expires so you are never out of status, but if there are delays in getting documents you need, a few days over aren't going to be a problem.

You can get the 3rd HPV shot wherever you like. I believe you don't need to have completed the series before you apply for AOS but you do need to have initiated it. So, whatever works best in your timeline should be fine.

Good luck.

I was thinking of flying in, it would be a lot easier for me to get to my destination by plane. Do you know if when I book my plane ticket if there is an option that I select (online booking?) or if I let the person at the desk know when I go to check in? I have both the envelope and passport, but what does VBG mean? While they are reviewing the documents, what kind of questions do they ask? and how long does it take? The 90 day date they write wont be an issue, because Im planning a wedding for the 18th of July right now. you mean the passport with the visa in it right?So basically find a safe place to keep the documents:)Great!Thank you, your information was very helpful! That all seems pretty straight forward, and painless like you said.

Hi all,

I just got my visa yesterday, and I was wondering what it is like crossing the border into the US? and how soon afterwords would I have to apply for the AOS? Oh and for the immunization/3rd HPV shot, do I have to get it done in canada or can I get a note from my doctor to have it done within the US ( I still have 2 months before it needs to be done)I would appreciate any advice. Thanks in advance.

You might have better luck posting in the Canadian forum

Janet

I'm a bit rusty because I have not been on here in a while...how do I get to the Canadian forum again?

Hey all,

Im so stoaked! I am on vacation visiting my fiance, when I get word from my lawyers that my interview date has been selected, July 8th 2009. It was the best of news. I was wondering if anyone would be able to give me a few pointers about what to expect during the interviews? or the questions that they may ask? I am very happy and nervous at the same time, and would like to go into this being prepared. Thank you all in advance, I appreciate it.

how can I find out if my validity date has been extended? I have just received my Package 3 in the mail on Oct 17 and began working on things right away. My lawyers want to review my documents with me before sending them out. I meet with them on nov 06 (next week). I was wondering if this validity date applies to/includes package 3? or if it means I should send package 3 by then?

Previously to receiving my package 3 my lawyers and I have been working real hard to find out as to why I didnt receive it sooner (see my timeline). at this time we have not received any notice if the validity date has been extended. I contacted my lawyers, and they are trying to find out all this information for me. The thing that worries me is that if the validity date hasnt changed that would mean that I have less than one month to get all the documents, and fill in all of the forms, and then mail it back to the consulate... I hate being unsure of things. am I worrying for nothing? or is what I have just mentioned revelant?

I guess that I should reword that... does my package 3 have to be submitted by NOV 14 (the end date on my NOA2/I-797)? or does the NOA2 validity date no longer apply since I have my package 3 now? Im just a little unclear still. I know I have a previous post about myNOA2 Vaildity date, but does package 3 fall under petition approval?

I know, I probably confused the heck outta ya

But yes, that is the right idea. If I understand them right, you would just go in the next 'group' if it was past a certain date. I dont think it will be a huge delay though

Good luck!!

<3 Jen

Thank you for taking the time to get back to me about this topic. It has been helpful! Im still waiting to hear from the lawyers about the soonest date that they will be able to see me. I do have another question though... does the validity date on the NOA2 still apply to this part of the process? or was that an approximate date of when to expect something from the consulate? cause mine was nov 14.

You're going through Montreal eh?

from the trends that I've seen with other CDN filers, Montreal schedules interviews in the middle of the month with cut off dates usually in the first week of the previous months...wow that sounds horrid...

Example: Montreal got my P3 on the 2nd of October, give it a couple days to get in the system (october 7th), then they do their checks. Everyone that got their P3's in by, say, the first week to 2 weeks of October will (hopefully, barring any RFE's or extra checks) be grouped into the next interview slots. Montreal doesn't have a set timeline - my letter said to expect a 2-3 month wait for a date. Most of the K-1 visas are then set for the middle of a month (seems to be between the 14-17 in most cases)

Is that ridiculously confusing? LOL I hope it kinda makes sense, and if any canucks want to correct me, please do

<3 Jen

It kind of makes sence. I got mine in the last 2 weeks of Oct. The letter was marked the 14, but I didnt get it until the 17...Since work has been crazy its been hard to balance everything. However, I did get the forms done, the lawyers just want to review them. So im trying to get in this week, next at the latest. So im planning to get it sent out for the first week of nov. I was more just worried that it would cause a big issue. By the sounds of things though, it wont seem like it, I would just end up in a different "group"as you put it(if i sent it later instead of earlier).

Thank you all for the help and suggestions! However, I do have another question. How long did it take for any of you to complete this part of the visa? I was having a little trouble filling in the forms (my lawyers filled in any previous forms)so I contacted my lawyers about the forms from the consulate (since they were mailed to me) and they have suggested that I fill in the forms and make an appointment with them to before sending back to the consulate. I think that this is a good idea(esp. since I am paying them)But I guess Im really wondering if a few more days will affect me in a negative way? It has been 6 days since I have received package 3 from the consulate&package 3 still needs to be sent out any thoughts? Im planning to see my lawyers this week.

1, Fill in DOS case number, For child write "N/A"

2, Check of what applies, and dont check boxes that do not apply, like prison record, or military record.

3, DS-156K and DS-230 are simply fallible PDF files, you can fill them out in adobe reader and print them for neatness, they do not need to be hand written.

http://www.state.gov/m/a/dir/forms/

4, NO, most consulates want them brought to the interview, Montreal wants DS-230, DS-156 (2 Copies) and the check list returned to them. http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/inde...mp;cty=Montreal

5, Anyway the is convenient for you so that you can easily and quickly locate things when asked for them at the interview.

Thank you very much for all of your help YuAndDan! What a relief, I was panicing that everything would have to go. Then I began worrying what If I dont get everything right away? lol. Anyways, I do have one more question... what about the I-134 form is that to be mailed as well?, or to be brought to the interview with the documents that are not being sent to the consulate?

hello fellow VJ-ers,

As you all know(from my previous posts)I have recently received package 3 in the mail. I have gone through it, and have a few questions regarding the information that needs to be filled in& submitted. I figured instead of driving myself crazy and attempting to do it on my own with the possibility of being wrong, that I would seek some help from all of you. My questions are:

1. the page where it says "dear visa applicant" do I fill in the case number that the montreal consulate has assigned to me? or is it something to leave blank for their offices to fill in? Directly under this statement it says "this petition includes the following child/children" Since I dont have any children I would leave this blank right?

2. the checklist states "check each box when the document is obtained" Does that mean all the boxes have to be checked? more specificaly numbers 7,8,9&11? (I have not been to court/prison or the military, i've never been married, and I dont have children)I was wondering if I would leave these blank, and sign off on it once I have the other documents?

3. I know that DS-156 has to be done online and printed once it has been complete(I have already done this). I was wondering if DS-156K&DS-230 are to be done online as well? in the document it states "this new electronic format does not apply to DS-230" and then goes on to explain the DS-156K. Does this mean they are to be hand written? since they have been sent in the package from the consulate.

4. Are the original documents (ie. long from birth certificate, police certificate, etc...) to be sent back to the consulate with package 3? or to be brought to the interview? Does this also include the medical?

5. I was wondering how others have put together package 3 after completion to be sent back to the consulate? folders, protectors, dividers, binders? how was it arranged? Just curious.

Thank you all in advance for your help. I greatly appreciate it!!!

If I have missed anything feel free to let me know.

would any of you happen to know how long it usually takes for this part to get processed (once sent back to the consulate)?

YIPEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Another step closer

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!! what an amazing present, what great timing

I know I'm extremely excited!!! sofar this is one of my best birthday's ever!!!

Yay! I'm so glad to hear that you FINALLY got it! I was worried for you! Do you know what happened? Had it been held up at NVC or lost in the mail? Well, it's not too much longer now I just had my medical done yesterday so I'm on the last wait of the bunch...You'll be there too soon, don't forget to drop by the Canada forum too if you have any questions!

<3 jen

I know, me too! To my knowledge it was delayed on Montreal's end. I'm just happy that it's in my hands now, and I can begin gathering the information together. It's funny, I have been debating on getting a head start on things. (Since I have been waiting so long)And I wanted to do something productive, then the package came. lol. It's like a weight was lifted off of my shoulders. Im also happy knowing that it wont be much longer. I hope. Best of luck with the completeion of your visa! Thanks for your help&Support!

Hey all!

I was having the worst day ever, and ended up working the evening shift at my job. Just when I thought that things couldn't get any better; I came home to PACKAGE 3 sitting on my bed!!! What a nice early birthday present&suprise!!! Needless to say that I am extremely anxious to start things

I was not referring to 'ETA' being used on VJ. The term was used in an e-mail that I received from my lawyer in regards to the package from the consulate. He stated "We are contacting the Montreal Consulate in order to get an ETA". The reason why I created this post was because I have not heard that term before and wanted to clairfy what it meant...Thanks anyways for trying to help.

Well depends...because if you're referring to the ETA used here, whenever someone updates their own post, I think its ETA=Edited To Add.

-P

yea, I dont watch much tv at all actually... I prefer movies, and even watching them is a chore because it seems like there is always something more important to do. Sometimes I find that there are not enough hours in the day to get things done. I'll definately have to add ETA to my vocab now, who knows maybe I wll be able to help someone else here on VJ that may have this same question one day. lol. I do feel so embarassed though

thank you both very much! I can honestly say that I have never heard that acronym used before(hence the reason why I asked...lol). I guess it is true, what they say...people learn at least one new thing a day. Ah, well. Now I feel a little more at ease.

Hi All!

It's me again with another question. It seems like I'm full of questions these days Anyways, I was going to contact my Lawyer about a term that he used, but with it being the long weekend here... I dont think I would be able to get ahold of him until Tuesday. So, I figured that I would ask my fellow VJ-ers! Here is my question: I was wondering if anyone knew what the term "ETA" means. My lawyer used this term in an e-mail to me. The topic we were discussing was why I have not received my package from the Montreal Consulate yet (I posted my concearns about the package from Montreal in a previous thread). My lawyer has contacted the NVC and Montreal to find out what is going on, he also said he is going to ask about an "ETA". I'm confused. What does this mean?

Thanks for the replies everyone!

Thanks pushbrk! you're so knowledgeable about everything, I really appreciate that there are people like you out there helping others like myself.